Cancer Letters

Cancer Letters

Volume 22, Issue 3, April 1984, Pages 241-253
Cancer Letters

Review letter
Micronuclei in exfoliated human cells as a tool for studies in cancer risk and cancer intervention

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3835(84)90159-9Get rights and content

Abstract

The use of the micronucleus test on exfoliated cells as an approach to identify genotoxic damage in human tissues which are targets for organspecific carcinogens and from which carcinomas will develop, is described. Chromosomal damage by carcinogens to dividing basal cells of the epithelium results in the production of micronuclei in the daughter cells which migrate up through the epithelium and are exfoliated. Exfoliated cells can be readily obtained from several tissues, including the oral buccal mucosa (scrapings of oral cells), bronchi (sputum), urinary bladder and ureter (centrifugation of urine), cervix (smears) and esophagus (imprints from biopsies). The micronucleus test on exfoliated cells has been successfully used to: (1) recognize population groups at an elevated risk for cancer of the oral cavity or urinary bladder; (2) estimate synergistic or additive effects of carcinogen exposure (cigarette smokers plus drinkers of alcoholic beverages); (3) pinpoint the site within an organ from which most carcinomas will develop (oral cancers among ‘inverted’ smokers in the Philippines). The possibility that this assay may also serve as a rapid monitor for chemopreventive agents is suggested by a preliminary trial on the effect of vitamin A/beta-carotene dietary supplementation among 33 betel quid chewers in the Philippines. These individuals received sealed capsules of retinol (100,000 IU/week) and betacarotene (300,000 IU/week) for a 3-month period. At the end of this time, the frequencies of micronucleated buccal mucosa cells were reduced from an average of 4.2% to 1.4%. No changes were observed in micronucleus frequencies among 11 betel quid chewers not receiving vitamin pills. Non-chewers of betel quid in this population had a micronucleus frequency of 0.5%.

References (27)

  • W.R. Bruce et al.

    The mutagenic activity of 61 different agents as determined by micronucleus, Salmonella and sperm abnormality assays

    Can. J. Genet. Cytol.

    (1979)
  • J. Cairns

    The origin of human cancers

    Nature (London)

    (1981)
  • A. De Klein et al.

    A cellular oncogene is translocated to the Philadelphia chromosome in chronic myelocytic leukaemia

    Nature (London)

    (1982)
  • Cited by (148)

    • Impact of infections, preneoplasia and cancer on micronucleus formation in urothelial and cervical cells: A systematic review

      2021, Mutation Research - Reviews in Mutation Research
      Citation Excerpt :

      One of the first studies with urothelial cells was published by Stich et al. [1] with material from patients with schistosomiasis in 1985. The first trial with cervical cells was realized by the same authors [2] in females with cervical dysplasia (DYS) and cervical cancer (CC) in 1984. In the following years, a number of investigations was realized with exfoliated cells from the bladder (urine derived cells, UDC) which concerned mainly the effects of occupational and life style factors (for review see Nersesyan et al. [3]).

    • Micronuclei and upper body cancers (head, neck, breast cancers) a systematic review and meta-analysis

      2021, Mutation Research - Reviews in Mutation Research
      Citation Excerpt :

      These studies reported high increases in MN frequency in buccal cells of tobacco/betel quid chewers expecially at the site of contact where the quid or tobacco mixture was kept compared to the opposite site of the mouth [20,21]. Increased frequencies of MN in buccal cells demonstrated also the strong synergistic effect between smoking habit and alcohol consumption in the modulation of chromosome instability [22]. Furthermore the MN assay in buccal cells was applied to investigate the level of chromosomal damage in cancerous and precancerous cells collected directly from the affected tissues [23].

    • Inorganic arsenic: A non-genotoxic carcinogen

      2016, Journal of Environmental Sciences (China)
    • Cytogenetic biomonitoring of occupationally exposed workers to ashes from burning of sugar cane in Ahome, Sinaloa, México

      2016, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
      Citation Excerpt :

      The samples were placed on a slide, air dried and fixed with methanol–acetic acid (3:1), and were stained with the Feulgen reaction. Genetic abnormalities were evaluated according to the procedure of Stick and Rosin (1984) and Martínez-Valenzuela et al. (2009) by observing 1000 cells per individual, on each slide. They were counted and classified according to Tolbert et al. (1992) and Thomas et al. (2009) to determine the frequency of MN and other nuclear abnormalities such as pyknosis, broken-egg, karyolysis and binucleate cells.

    • Artisanal Gem Mining in Brazil: A Source of Genotoxicity and Exposure to Toxic Elements

      2023, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text